Support for washing machines and the like



. 17, 9 .1. s. VISSCHER 2,176,753

SUPPORT FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed July 7, 1937 Fig.1.

, J hn S. Visscher,

Patented Oct. 17, 1939 2,176,753 SUPPORT FOR WASHING MACHINES AND THE LIKE John S. Visscher, Stratford, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application .Iuly 1, 1987, Serial No. 152.311 1 Claim. c1. sis-451) My invention relates to supports for washing machines and the like.

The object" of my invention is to provide an improved construction composed of parts capable of being manufactured cheaply and of being easily and quickly assembled.

For a more detailed understanding of my invention reference may be had to the followin8 description and the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 shows a domestic washing machine having a supporting structure embodying my invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper portion of one of the legs; and Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 33 in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a domestic washing machine having a cylindrical sheet metaltub I0 supported on a supporting structure comprising a cylindrical sheet metal skirt II and legs l2. The upper edge of the skirt has an outwardly flaring rim l3 providing a seat for the tub. A strip M of rubber or other nonmetallic composition lies between the tub and the rim of the skirt, the upper edge I! of the strip ll fitting over the upper edge of the skirt. The lower edge ii of the strip I4 is bead-shaped to conform more closely to the bottom of the tub. The strip It provides a seal which prevents leakage between the tub and the skirt of water which may flow down the outside of the tub. The lower edge of the skirt II is rolled inwardly and provided with a stiffening bead ll.

The driving mechanism for the washing machine may be supported on the skirt. Suitable arrangements (not shown) are provided for holding the tub against the upper edge of the skirt;

Each of the legs I2 is formed of sheet metal in a channel shape, wide at the central portions and narrow at each end. As is shown clearly in Figure 2, the side walls ll of the legs have hookshaped projections l9 formed integrally there- I with near the upper end of the leg. These projections l9 extend through slots 20 in the skirt and hook over the inner surface of the skirt, fastening the legs to the skirt. The upper edges of 4d the slots 20 rest on the bottom portions 19- of the hooks, transferring the load from the skirt to the legs.

Near the wide central portion of the legs, the side walls l8 have integral tabs 2| which extend through slots 22 in the skirt and are subsequently bent outward to hold the legs against the skirt. Shoulders 23' formed in the side walls I. oooperate with the inwardly curved lower edge of the skirt and provide additional support therefor.

The lower ends of the legs are braced by radial tension arms, connected to each other at the center in a manner not shown and provided with down-turned tabs 25 fastened to the legs by bolts 26. The arms 24 tend to draw the lower ends of the legs inwardly forcing the shoulders 23 against the curved lower edge of the skirt and urging the hooks I! outward against the inner surface of the skirt. The tension arms 24 increase the stability and strength of the structure by removing any I possibility of play between abutting parts of the legs and the skirt. Casters 28 are suitably carried by lower ends of the legs.

In assembly the hooks I! of the legs are inserted through the slots 20 in the skirts and the legs pushed upward until the bottom portions l9 0 of the hooks bear against the upper edges of the slots. The legs are then swung toward the skirt, pivoting about the upper edges of the slots 20, and the tabs 2| extended through openings 22 in the skirt. The tabs 2| are then bent outward,

locking the legs to the skirt. The tension arms 24 are attached to each other and to the legs drawing the lower ends of the legs inward and forcing the shoulder 23 on the legs tightly against 30 the inwardly curved edge of the skirt. The legs are now held tightly on the skirt. The load carried by the skirt is transmitted to the legs through the upper edges of the slots 20 which bear on the portions IQ of the hooks l9 and through the lower curved edge of the skirt which bears on the shoulders 28.

What I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

In combination, a skirt having spaced openings 40 therein, a channel-shaped leg having its side walls presented edgewise to and engaging one face of the skirt and having the connecting walls spaced therefrom, integral hook-shaped portions on the edges of and facing along the side walls, said 45 hook-shaped portions being inserted through said openings and cooperating with the opposite face of the skirt to hold the legs thereon, and means for holding the leg against the skirt.

. JOHN S. VISSCHER. 

